Ultrafast multiplex CARS investigation of vibrational characteristics in chloroform and PMMA

This paper demonstrates the femtosecond time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering by using folded BOXCARS geometry where an ultrashort broadband coherent white light continuum was used as Stokes pulse, and carries out the non-contact detection at long distance. The CARS signal is so easy to be detected that it can be seen even by nude eye. The C-H bonds of chloroform or PMMA were detected and the vibration modes belonging to the side chain and the main chain in PMMA were also compared. Their vibrational characteristics involved decay process and quantum beating were discussed. This modified CARS experimental technique could make up the deficiency of traditional CARS technique.     

分子多振动模式的振动退相时间同时测量方法

利用作者自制的超连续谱激发时间分辨相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射(coherent anti-stokes Ranman scat-tering,CARS)谱仪同时测得反映分子组成的各种振动谱以及这些振动模式各自的退相时间.实验对苯甲腈样品分子振动谱中5个典型分子振动模式的振动弛豫过程进行了测量,一次获得了这种分子各振动模式对...     

Broadband (1000 cm−1) multiplex CARS spectroscopy: Application to polarization sensitive and time-resolved measurements

A multiplex CARS spectrometer based on a cw diode-pumpedQ-switched Nd: YLF laser, a broadband dye-laser and a multichannel spectrum detection system has been constructed. Excellent mode characteristics of the laser beams and high pulse repetition rate (2 kHz) have resulted in good signal-to-noise ratio achieved with a few seconds accumulation time. A 1000 cm^–1 wide spectral range is covered in a single CARS spectrum with an expanded bandwidth of the dye laser. A thin-jet sampling method is used in order to avoid the phase-matching limitation. The efficient spectral intensity normalization by the reference (CCl₄) nonresonant spectrum and subsequent computer fitting have been implemented. The performance of the system is demonstrated by two different experiments. First, the polarization sensitive measurements (PS-CARS) of cyclohexane show its potential for accurate Raman depolarization ratio determination and for detection of weak (overlapped) Raman bands. Second, the transient resonance CARS measurement of the lowest excited triplet state of all-trans retinal indicate its feasibility to time-resolved CARS spectroscopy of fluorescent excited states.     

Broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy of nitrogen using a picosecond modeless dye laser

Broadband picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy of nitrogen is demonstrated using 145-ps pump and probe beams and a 115-ps Stokes beam with a spectral bandwidth of 5 nm. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of broadband CARS using subnanosecond lasers. The short temporal envelope of the laser pulses and the broadband spectral nature of the Stokes beam will enable nonresonant-background-free, single-shot, or time-dependent spectroscopy in high-pressure or hydrocarbon-rich environments. Successful correlation of room-temperature broadband picosecond N2 CARS with a theoretical spectrum is presented.     

High-spectral-resolution coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering with interferometrically detected broadband chirped pulses

To achieve high-spectral-resolution multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), one typically uses a narrowband pump pulse and a broadband Stokes pulse. This is to ensure a correspondence between anti-Stokes and vibrational frequencies. We obtain high-resolution CARS spectra of isopropanol, using a broadband chirped pump pulse and a broadband Stokes pulse, by detecting the anti-Stokes pulse with spectral interferometry. With the temporally resolved anti-Stokes signal, we can remove the chirp of the anti-Stokes pulse and restore high spectral resolution while also rejecting nonresonant scattering.     

Molecular dynamics in low vibrational states investigated by fs time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy technique

The molecular dynamics process is investigated in this paper using a broadband fs time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) technique. By varying the timing of laser pulses, low vibrational states are started and studied on both the electronically excited B(³Π_0u⁺) state and ground X(¹Σ_0g⁺) state of iodine in the gas phase at room temperature. According to change the pump wavelength or Stokes pulse as well as the wavelength of the detection window for the CARS signal, dynamics on different potential-energy surfaces can be accessed and detected by the CARS spectroscopy. Results show that the period of the oscillation is decreased for the excited B(³Π_0u⁺) state as the wavelength of the pump pulses is increased, while it is increased for the ground X(¹Σ_0g⁺) state with the increase of the Stokes wavelength.     

液相硝基甲烷分子振动特性的相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射光谱

构建时间分辨相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射（CARS）光谱系统，从微观层次研究硝基甲烷的分子相干振动动力学特性.实验中采用超连续白光作为斯托克斯光，通过调整斯托克斯光的时间延迟，得到不同振动模式的CARS光谱.通过对振动弛豫曲线的拟合，获得硝基甲烷分子不同振动模式的振动失相时间.结果表明C–H键伸缩振动比C–N键伸缩振动更容易受热声子的影响.在热加载下，硝基甲烷分子的C–H键有望首先被激发并引起初始化学反应.     

Investigation of vibrational characteristics in BBO crystals by femtosecond CARS

Femtosecond time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is utilized to study the ultrafast vibrational dynamics in BBO crystals at room temperature. Time-resolved two-beam and three-beam CARS are detected. The vibrational dephasing time is analyzed and the changes of vibrational mode intensities with the polarization of pump pulses are observed.     

Nonlinear interferometric vibrational imaging

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) processes are "coherent," but the phase of the anti-Stokes radiation is lost by most incoherent spectroscopic CARS measurements. We propose a Raman microscopy imaging method called nonlinear interferometric vibrational imaging, which measures Raman spectra by obtaining the temporal anti-Stokes signal through nonlinear interferometry. With a more complete knowledge of the anti-Stokes signal, we show through simulations that a high-resolution Raman spectrum can be obtained of a molecule in a single pulse using broad band radiation. This could be useful for identifying the three-dimensional spatial distribution of molecular species in tissue.     

Effects of laser linewidth on coherent antiStokes Raman spectroscopy

Expressions for the generated antiStokes spectral density in coherent antiStokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) are obtained, which take into account the finite linewidths of laser sources and which may be used to analyse observed spectra. Lorentzian and gaussian laser lineshapes are taken as special cases, which enable further analytic results for single and multiline CARS spectra to be derived. Emphasis is placed on scanning and broadband (multiplex) CARS techniques, and the choice of laser sources discussed from the spectral point of view. As examples of multiline spectra an analytical account of a periodic spectrum is presented and temperature measurement from Q-branch spectra is treated.